Check back regularly, as we update our resource list for blog photography a few times per year!
Whether you’re a brand new blogger or have been at it for 10+ years, photography is one of the most essential blogging skills, and one you can continue learning about no matter how long you’ve been creating content! There are literally millions of posts out there covering photography essentials—understanding how a camera works, the Rule of Thirds, how to adjust your shutter and aperture. And yep, we’ve even linked to several below. But today, we thought we’d round up a deeper resource list focused specifically around the types of photos bloggers need for their sites. Whether you want to take a class, learn from seasoned blog pros, or get more insight into a specific blog photo style, our resource list has something for everyone! Check it out below:
Online Photography Classes
Taking a photography class is a great way to learn foundational skills and get inspired—plus, the inevitable “homework” will force you to get out there and practice! Jot down some notes, grab your camera, and go!
Nicole’s Classes // This online “school” for creatives has been around since the early 2010s. Nicole’s Classes offers coursework not only for creative programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, but also a series of photography classes that are perfect for beginners.
Skillshare // Skillshare is a well-known resource for online classes. They have literally THOUSANDS of classes all about photography. We recommend sorting by “popular” classes to find courses that have been tried and tested by other Skillshare community members.
Lifehacker // No time for a multi-session online course? Check out this free guide from Lifehacker that dives into all the basics of photography.
A Beautiful Mess  // You might know the ABM girls from their super popular editing app, A Color Story. Check out this course on DSLR basics, offered through their ABM Courses program. They also have a Beyond the Basics course for intermediate users.
Shoot Fly Shoot // A new-to-us program which features multiple photography courses from successful wedding photographer Josh Moates and interior design photographer Kevin Palmer. For about $245, you can enroll in both the Photography 101 and 102 courses, which includes lifetime access to all the content!
Phlearn // This site offers a multitude of free Photoshop and Lightroom tutorials, along with full-fledged classes in both (see here and here).
Posts & Series from Your Favorite Bloggers
One of our favorite ways to learn is from fellow bloggers! The list below features individual posts and photography tip series from popular bloggers. Is there a blogger who published a photography post which was especially helpful for you? Comment at the bottom of this post, and we’ll add it to our list!
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Camille Styles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) [/one_half]
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Gary Pepper Girl[/one_half_last]
Specific Posts We Love
Across the Internet, near and far, photography posts abound. Here are some of our favorites, with a special focus on posts that are helpful for bloggers. Have an article you loved and think should be listed here? Comment with the link below!
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Gear posts
Camera Essentials for Bloggers
Why every blogger needs a Prime lens
Comparing an 85mm vs 50mm lens
Photography basics
Photo lines and repetition tips
Understanding ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture: A Beginner’s Guide
An Aperture Priority Checklist
How to take brighter photos (and, how to achieve the light & airy look)
Flatlay posts
How to style paper products for photos
More flatlay photography tips[/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0 0 20px”]iPhone/Instagram posts
How to take good Instagram photos with your phone
How to create bright and sharp photos with your iPhone
10 hacks for taking blog-worthy photos with your iPhone
Lightroom to Instagram export settings, for perfectly sharp photos
Content-specfic posts
Photography tips for street style photos
How to Pose Like a Street Style All-Star
The Serious Eats Guide to Food Photography
5 Simple Tips for Shooting Better Interior Photography
11 Tips for Killer Travel Photography
How to take self-portraits for your fashion blog
General Blog Photography Posts
How to find and work with a blog photographer
Editing cloudy day photography
Background Blur: 3 Ways to Get It
8 photography mistakes you might be making
Making digital photos look more like film
5 easy hacks to improve your photos
Why brand photography is so important for your business
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Stock Photography Resources
When all else fails, a stock photo might tell the story you need. Here are our favorite resources:
Unsplash // By far our favorite resource, the Unsplash site has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Our favorite feature? Beyond their super specific search functionality (try typing in obscure terms like “black and white texture,” or broad ones like “girly,“), you can create a free account and build your own collections of photos. We use this feature to save photos that will work for our blogs, businesses, and client projects; we also recently used it to curate a holiday themed collection, free for our useres!
RawPixel // We got to know RawPixel because so many photos we liked on Unsplash were from this company! Turns out, they have their own website, chock full of amazing, free-to-use photos, videos, illustrations, and templates. In addition to the photos, there are some awesome resources here for artwork to use on Instagram, and in your blog collages.
Adobe Stock // This is among the more expensive options, but it’s such a big one, we thought it worth mentioning: Adobe offers a stock photo and video service, with over 100 million photos (incredible, right?). While it costs $29.99/mo, there are endless options to choose from with Adobe Stock, and we like that assets can be saved in your Adobe Creative Cloud account, making them easy to access if you’re already subscribing to one of their creative suite plans. We also like Adobe Stock if you need a resource for looping video on your blog or website.
Creative Market // While Creative Market has a huge number of stock images for sale, it’s not our favorite resource just for this reason—with sites like Unsplash, there are lots of free stock photos out there. However, where Creative Market wins is their many product mockups, flat lays, and styled image bundles. You can create scenes with templates like this, or build portfolio tiles perfect for showcasing your work (we recently had a great time playing around with this one). Check out their products for flatlays too!
Styled Stock Society // Our co-founder Lisa subscribes to this one! We love this as a resource for fun, feminine, brightly lit stock photos and flat lays for style bloggers. It’s also a great resource if you are a service-based business, and need professional looking stock photos for your site’s landing page. You can shop individual bundles, or become a member and access all new and old images.
Other resources to check out:
Have a photography resource you want to share? Leave it in the comments below! Please note, while we’ve been lucky enough to try out many of the tips and services mentioned here, not all have been vetted by the <em>press team. If you’re have any questions about the services or tips above, don’t hesitate to check in with the specific vendor before investing your money in these resources!
